Streetsblog tends to be in a perpetual state of intoxication because of the the fumes of its personal smugness, however every now and then they sober up do a extremely good story, and right here’s certainly one of them:
A number of years in the past, motor scooters (or what Streetsblog and others name “mopeds” regardless that they actually aren’t) rapidly supplanted bicycles because the small-scale supply car of alternative in New York Metropolis. I figured some enterprising individual had seen a chance and discovered a technique to cheaply import crappy motor scooters to promote to supply employees, however I by no means truly seemed into it or something as a result of, you recognize, I’m lazy and I’m not a journalist. However luckily Streetsblog has accomplished the legwork and right here’s the story behind Fly E-Bike, that model you usually see on the contraption that just about ran you over:
While you examine stuff like micromobility and app-based supply and avenue design and all the remainder of it, the discourse surrounding it’s usually quite high-minded and idealistic, however the actuality is far completely different:
[I don’t think that’s how aviation is supposed to work, but the name certainly fits.]
And whereas the smuggies are invoking Jan Gehl and Peter Norton or whoever, this man’s modeling himself on Jordan Belfort:
And it’s fairly spectacular, too, apart from the individuals he’s burned–like, actually burned:
Alas, it’s a narrative as outdated as the town itself:
It’s nearly as if all of the progressive pantomiming gained’t change the truth that New York Metropolis is about one factor and one factor solely, and that’s earning money:
Most significantly, this text an amazing instance of how the perfect (and presumably solely) technique to make actual cash from bicycles is by changing these bicycles with one thing else totally.
In fact, these of us who don’t rely on making deliveries in an effort to feed ourselves can afford to make extra rarefied selections with regards to two-wheeled transportation:
The weekend began out heat and moist, and the be-fendered Homer noticed me by way of the sunshine rain and melting snow:
Then on Sunday the temperature plummeted, and so I seemed to the Roadini:
Sorry, I meant Roaduno!
Do I want a Homer, and a Roaduno, and a Roadini? No. However by that logic I additionally don’t want Beethoven and Brahms after I can simply take heed to Mozart, or Fortunate Charms and Cap’n Crunch after I have already got a field of Froot Loops:
Anyway, everyone wants a devoted three-speed one-speed road-and-frozen-trail bike, clearly:
In fact all these bikes are equally comfy–not due to the elements, or the match, or the geometry, or something like that. No, they’re comfy due to the sq. taper cranks. Sure, in keeping with the Desert Hipster web site, “crank flex results in all-day driving consolation:”
Now I’ve heard every little thing.
